Waterproof case for electronic devices

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides protective waterproof cases for portable media players such as iPods. In an exemplary embodiment, the waterproof case comprises a transparent polycarbonate shell having an interior compartment formed therein and comprising upper and lower portions that can be detached for placing a portable player in the interior compartment. A polyurethane overmold is molded over selected portions of the shell to form protective layers on the exterior and interior surfaces of the shell. The waterproof case also comprises a window through which the screen of the player can be viewed, and a flexible pad for operating the player while it is in the waterproof case. The waterproof case further comprises a gasket for forming a watertight seal between the upper and lower portions of the shell when they are attached, and a compressible fitting for forming a watertight seal for a headphone connected to the player in the case.

The present invention relates to waterproof cases, and more particularlyto waterproof cases for electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable digital media players have become popular for providingportable media, e.g., music, to people on the go, e.g., commuters, andto sports enthusiasts, e.g., joggers, bikers, etc. Presently, the mostpopular portable digital media player in the United States is the iPodmedia player from Apple Computer, Inc.

A problem with portable media players is that they are not waterproofand are therefore susceptible to water damage. However, many peopledesire to use portable media players while they are engaging inwater-related activities such as water sports, e.g., surfing andswimming, and showering.

Accordingly, there is a need for waterproof cases for electronicdevices, and particularly for portable media players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides protective waterproof cases for portablemedia players.

A waterproof case according to an exemplary embodiment comprises atransparent polycarbonate shell having an interior compartment formedtherein and comprising upper and lower portions that can be detached forplacing the portable media player to be protected in the interiorcompartment. A polyurethane overmold is molded over selected portions ofthe shell to form protective layers on the exterior interior surfaces ofthe shell. The polyurethane overmold may also be molded to formprotective bumps and gripping ribs on the exterior of the shell.

The waterproof case further comprises a window formed in the shellthrough which the screen of the player in the case can be viewed, and aflexible pad for operating the player while it is in the waterproofcase. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible pad is formed by moldingthe polyurethane overmold over a hole in the shell. The waterproof casefurther includes a gasket around the upper portion of the shell forforming a watertight seal between the upper and lower portions of theshell when they are attached. In a preferred embodiment, the gasket isformed by molding the polyurethane overmold in a groove in the upperportion of the shell.

In an embodiment, the waterproof case further comprises a headphoneadapter for connecting the player in the case to a headphone or othersound reproducing device. The headphone adapter includes a plug at oneend for plugging into the jack of the player and a jack at another endfor connecting to a headphone. A compressible fitting is fitted aroundthe adapter. The waterproof case further comprises a stem on the shellhaving an inner space for receiving the compressible fitting and anopening to the interior compartment. To form a watertight seal for theheadphone, the compressible fitting is placed in the stem with theadaptor plugged into the player in the case. A cap with an opening forthe adapter is then screwed onto the stem over the compressible fitting.As the cap is screwed onto the stem, the compressible fitting iscompressed between the stem and the cap, thereby forming a watertightseal for the headphone.

In another embodiment, a clip can be attached to the waterproof case forclipping the waterproof case to a belt, armband, shorts, neck strap, orthe like.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will beor will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following figures and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a waterproof case according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the waterproof case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the waterproof case showing upper andlower portions of the case detached for placing a portable media playerin an interior compartment of the case, and showing a headphone adapterwith a compressible fitting.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the waterproof case.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof case taken along line5 in FIG. 4, and showing a user pressing down on the control of a mediaplayer in the case through a flexible pad.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof taken along line 6 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof case taken along line7 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective back view of the waterproof case showing railson the back of the case for attaching a belt clip to the case.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a belt clip that can be attached to thewaterproof case by sliding the clip into the rails.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the belt clip.

FIG. 11 is a front view of another clip, which can be used to attachedthe waterproof case to a neck strap.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the clip in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a neck strap that can be attached tothe waterproof case using the clip shown in FIGS. 11-12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a waterproof case according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective and side view,respectively, of a protective waterproof case 10 according to anembodiment. The waterproof case 10 in this particular embodiment isdimensioned to protect a Gen 4 iPod media player The waterproof case 10may also be dimensioned to protect other models and other portable mediaplayers. Preferably, the waterproof case 10 comprises a transparentpolycarbonate shell 15 forming an interior compartment 30 therein, inwhich the iPod media player to be protected is placed. The shell 15 mayalso be made of other rigid or semi-rigid plastics.

The case 10 further comprises a polyurethane overmold 18 molded overselected portions of the shell 15, e.g., by injection molding. Thepolyurethane overmold 18 may be translucent with a color shading, e.g.,blue. Polyurethane is preferred because it forms a tight bond with thepolycarbonate shell 15. Polyurethane is also a soft pliable plastic.Other soft plastics may be used for the overmold including, e.g.,thermalplastic elastomers (TPE). The polyurethane overmold 18 ispreferably molded over the exterior surface of the shell 15 along thetop, bottom, and sides of the shell 15 to form a protective layer aroundthe shell 15. The polyurethane overmold 18 is also molded to formprotective bumps 19 on the front and back of the case 10, and grippingribs 20 on the sides of the case 10, as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2.

The shell 15 comprises detachable upper and lower portions 23 and 25that can be detached from each other for placing the iPod media player27 in the interior compartment 30 of the case 10, as shown in FIG. 3.The upper portion 23 includes a transparent window 33 formed in thetransparent shell 15 through which a user can view the iPod screen. Thewindow 33 may be slightly recessed in the case 10 to prevent scratchesto the window 33.

The lower portion 25 includes a flexible pad 35 overlying the controlwheel of the iPod media player 27 in the case 10. The flexible pad 35 ispreferably created by a hole in the shell 15 that is covered by aflexible layer of polyurethane or other flexible material. Thepolyurethane overmold 18 is preferably molded over the shell hole toform the flexible pad 35. FIG. 5 shows the polyurethane overmold 18molded over the shell hole 37 to form the flexible pad 35. A portion ofthe polyurethane overmold 18 forming the flexible pad 35 extends overthe interior compartment 30 and sides of the hole 37 to secure theflexible pad 35 to the shell 15. The flexible pad 36 is capable offlexing downward and touching the control wheel of the iPod media player27. This allows the user to manipulate the control wheel of the iPodmedia player 27 through the flexible pad 35, and thereby operate theiPod 27 while it is in the waterproof case 10. FIG. 5 shows the user'sfinger pressing down on the control wheel of the iPod media player 27through the flexible pad 35. In this embodiment the flexible pad 35preferably has a circular shape matching the shape of the iPod's controlwheel. The flexible pad 35 also preferably has a smooth slippery surfacethat allows the user to easily glide his or her finger across theflexible pad 35. The flexible pad 35 may include a convex centralportion 42 matching the shape of the central select button of thecontrol wheel to give the flexible pad 35 the feel of the iPod's controlwheel. The flexible pad 35 may have other shapes corresponding to thecontrols of other portable media players.

To attach the upper and lower portions 23 and 25 of the case 10, anattachment portion 50 of the upper portion 23 is inserted into areceiving portion 53 of the lower portion 25. The case 10 includes agasket 55 or seal around the attachment portion 50. The gasket 55 maycomprise polyurethane or other compressible material. The polyurethaneovermold 18 may be molded in a groove in the upper portion 23 of theshell 15 to form the gasket 55. When the attachment portion 50 isinserted into the receiving portion 53, the gasket 55 compresses againstthe inner walls of the receiving portion 53 forming a watertight sealbetween the upper and lower portions 23 and 25, as shown in FIG. 5.

The waterproof case 10 further includes a headphone adapter 60 forconnecting a headphone (not shown) to the iPod media player 27 in thecase 10, which is best shown in FIG. 3. The adapter 60 may be used forconnecting a headphone that cannot be plugged directly into the iPodmedia player, e.g., because the diameter of the headphone plug isdifferent from the diameter of the headphone jack 65 of the iPod mediaplayer 27. The adapter 60 is not required for headphones that can beplug directly to the iPod media player 27.

The adapter 60 includes a plug 63 at one end that is inserted into theheadphone jack 65 of the iPod media player 27 in the case 10 and a jack67 at the other end into which the plug of the headphone (not shown) isinserted. A compressible fitting 70 is fitted around the adapter 60. Thecompressible fitting 70 may comprise polyurethane or other compressiblematerial. The polyurethane used for the compressible fitting 70 may bethe same as that used for the polyurethane overmold 18. In thisparticular embodiment, the compressible fitting 70 has a conical shapeat each end.

The waterproof case 10 also includes a threaded headphone stem 73 and athreaded cap 75 that screws onto the stem 73, The stem 73 includes aninner space for receiving and holding the compressible fitting 70therein and a bottom opening 76 to the interior compartment 30, as shownin FIGS. 5 and 7. The cap 75 includes a top opening 78 through which theadapter 60 can be inserted. The cap 75 is preferably made ofpolycarbonate. The stem 73 and the cap 75 have angled surfaces 80 and83, respectively, configured to engage and compress the compressiblefitting 70 therebetween. In addition, the angled surface 80 of the stem73 helps guide the conically-shaped end of the compressible filter 70 sothat the adapter plug 63 lines up with the iPod jack 65 in the case 10.

To form a watertight seal for the headphone, the compressible fitting 70of the adapter 60 is placed in the stem 73 and the adapter plug 63 isplugged into the iPod jack 65 through the opening 76. The cap 75 is thenscrewed onto the stem 73 over the fitting 70. This causes the cap 75 tocompress the fitting 70 between the stem 73 and the cap 75 and form awatertight seal, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The cap may snap onto thestem instead of screw onto the stem, in which case the cap and the stemdo not have to be threaded Further, the compressible fitting 70 may befitted around the cord or other part of the headphone instead of anadapter, in which case the adapter 60 is not used. For example, thecompressible fitting 70 may fit around a portion of an earbud headphonethat comes with the iPod media player 27. In this particular embodiment,the stem 73 is position on the top center of the case to line up withthe headphone jack of a Gen 4 iPod media player. The stem may also bepositioned at other locations on the case to line up with the headphonejacks of other iPod media player models or portable medial players. Forexample, for a Gen 5 iPod media player, the stem may be positioned onthe top right of the case to line up with the headphone jack of the Gen5 iPod media player. FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which the stem 173is positioned on the bottom right of the case 120 to line up with theheadphone jack of an iPod nano media player 127. In addition, the case120 is dimensioned to match the dimensions of that player.

The polyurethane overmold 18 is preferably also molded over selectedportions of the interior compartment 30 of the case 10. As shown in FIG.7, the polyurethane overmold is molded to form strips 85 on the frontand back inner walls of the interior compartment 30. The polyurethaneovermold 18 may also be molded to form other patterns. The polyurethaneovermold 18 is also molded along portions of the top, bottom, and sideinner walls of the interior compartment 30. The polyurethane overmold 18in the interior compartment 30 is preferably molded to hold the iPod 27snuggly in the compartment 30, and to provide additional protection tothe iPod 27 from shock.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the back of the case 10 includes rails 90formed on the upper portion 23 of the shell 15 for receiving anattachable belt clip 92. The belt clip 92 is preferably made ofstainless steel and includes a bendable tongue 97 for clipping onto anarticle of clothing. To attach the belt clip 92 to the case 10, thesides 93 of the clip are slid into the rails 90 with the upper and lowerportions 23 and 25 of the shell 15 detached. The belt clip 92 includes aspherical portion 94 that snaps into a concave indentation 95 on thecase to secure the clip 92 to the case 10. A narrow slot 91 around thespherical portion 94 allows the spherical portion 94 to be pushed in.The lower portion 25 of the shell includes stops 96 formed thereon thatline up with the rails 90 to prevent the belt clip 92 from sliding outof the rails 90 when the upper and lower portions 23 and 25 areattached. The belt clip 92 may be used to clip the case 10 onto a belt,an armband, shorts, or the like. The tongue 97 of the clip 92 mayinclude a hole 98 that fits around a projection 99 on the case 10 toprevent the clip 92 from slipping off an article of clothing, e.g.,belt. In this embodiment, both the hole 98 and the projection 99 have anoval shape, although other shapes may also be used. The polyurethaneovermold 18 on the shell 15 may be molded to form the projection 99.

FIG. 11 and 12 show another attachable clip 101 that may be used to clipthe case 10, e.g, to a neck strap. The clip 101 is similar to the beltclip shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 except that the clip 101 does not have atongue and includes an upper plate 110 with a hole 112. FIG. 13 shows anexemplary neck strap 113 that can be attached to the case 10 using theclip 101. The neck strap 113 includes a nylon string 115 that can bethreaded through the hole 112 of the clip 101 and a thin neck band 116attached to both ends of the string 115. The neck band 116 preferablygoes around the wearer's neck and comprises water-resistant neoprene.The neck strap 113 includes an adjustable fastener 117 for adjusting thelength of the string 115.

While an embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, various modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention, and all such modifications andequivalents are intended to be covered. For example, the waterproof casemay be configured for other portable media players, with the dimensions,window and flexible pad of the case configured to match the size,screen, and controls of other portable media players, respectively.

1. A protective waterproof case for a portable media player, comprising:a substantially transparent shell having an interior compartment formedtherein, wherein the shell comprises upper and lower portions that canbe detached from each other for placing the portable media player in theinterior compartment, and the shell has a hole positioned over a controlof the portable media player when the player is placed in the interiorcompartment; and a flexible pad covering the shell hole, wherein theflexible pad allows a user to operate the control of the portable mediaplayer while the player is in the case.
 2. The protective case of claim1, further comprising a polyurethane overmold molded over portions ofthe exterior surface of the shell to form a protective layer.
 3. Theprotective case of claim 2, wherein the polyurethane overmold is moldedover the shell hole to form the flexible pad.
 4. The protective case ofclaim 3, wherein a portion of the polyurethane overmold forming theflexible pad extends over the interior compartment to secure theflexible pad to the shell.
 5. The protective case of claim 3, whereinthe polyurethane overmold is molded to form protective bumps on theexterior surface of the shell.
 6. The protective case of claim 3,wherein the polyurethane overmold is molded to form gripping ribs on theexterior surface of the shell.
 7. The protective case of claim 3 whereinthe polyurethane overmold is molded over portions of the interiorcompartment of the shell.
 8. The protective case of claim 3, wherein thepolyurethane overmold is molded in a grove in the upper portion of theshell to form a gasket around the upper portion of the shell, and thegasket forms a watertight seal between the upper and lower portions ofthe shell when they are attached.
 9. The protective case of claim 1,wherein the shell comprises polycarbonate.
 10. The protective case ofclaim 1, further comprising: a compressible fitting adapted to fitaround a headphone adapter or a portion of a headphone; a stem extendingfrom the shell having an inner space for receiving and holding thecompressible fitting therein and having an opening to the interiorcompartment of the shell; and a cap configured to fit onto the stem andhaving an opening, wherein the cap is configured to compress thecompressible fitting between the stem and the cap when the compressiblefitting is placed in the stem and the cap is fitted onto the stem. 11.The protective case of claim 10, wherein the cap is configured to screwonto the stem.
 12. The protective case of claim 11, wherein thecompressible fitting has two opposing conically-shaped ends, and thestem and the cap each have angles surfaces configured to engage theconically-shaped ends of the compressible fitting.
 13. The protectivecase of claim 1, wherein the flexible pad has a substantially circularshape.
 14. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the flexible pad hasa convex-shaped central portion.
 15. The protective case of claim 1,further comprising: a clip having two sides; and rails formed on a backside of the shell, wherein the sides of the clip are configured to slideinto the rails of the shell to attach the clip to the shell.
 16. Aprotective waterproof case for a portable media player, comprising: ashell having an interior compartment formed therein, wherein the shellcomprises upper and lower portions that can be detached from each otherfor placing the portable media player in the interior compartment, andthe shell has a hole positioned over a control of the portable mediaplayer when the player is placed in the interior compartment; and apolyurethane overmold molded over selected portions of the shell,wherein the polyurethane overmold is molded over portions of theexterior surface of the shell to form a protective layer, thepolyurethane overmold is molded over the shell hole to form a flexiblepad for allowing a user to operate the control of the portable mediaplayer while the player is in the case, and the polyurethane overmold ismolded over portions of the interior compartment.
 17. The protectivecase of claim 16, wherein a portion of the polyurethane overmold formingthe flexible pad extends over the interior compartment to secure theflexible pad to the shell.
 18. The protective case of claim 16, whereinthe polyurethane overmold is molded in a grove in the upper portion ofthe shell to form a gasket around the upper portion of the shell, andthe gasket forms a watertight seal between the upper and lower portionsof the shell when they are attached.
 19. The protective case of claim16, wherein the polyurethane overmold is molded to form protective bumpsof the exterior surface of the shell.
 20. The protective case of claim16, wherein the shell is substantially transparent, and the polyurethaneovermold is translucent with a color shading.